Tie hitch



July 16,1929. 5, G SCHULZ 1121,3456

' TIE HITCH Filed Dec. 13, 1928 I N VEN TOR.

flolomon 63.50724 A TTORNE Y.

Fatente d July 16, 19 29..

UNITED STATES SOLOMON G. SCHULZ, F Z EARKSTON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

' TIE HITCH.

Application .filed December 18, 1928. Serial No. 325,771.

This invention relates to a tie hitch and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device for adjustably hitching two or more horses together and maintaining them a predetermined distance apart, whereby as many horses as desired may be drivenabreastwith out danger of the horses crowding together and becoming unmanageable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a'dev'ice as aforesaid, by means of which four or'more horses may be elfectively hitched abreast in a manner to provide for the driving of the horses with one pair of lines. I i .j

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more particularly described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that such description and drawings are to be taken as illustrative and that the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the claims hereunto ap pended.

In the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a'tie hitch constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 shown partly in section. V

Figure 3 is a top plan of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 isa section taken on line 4l4 of Figure 2.v

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional elevation, showing the latching memher in operative position in full lines and in inoperative position in dotted'lines.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral '1 designates an elongated, hollow member having a tapered end 2 to which is secured a chain 3, whichis provided with a snap 4 by means of which the member 1 may be secured in position. Adapted to slide within the member ,1 is an elongated mem ber 5 which is preferably formed of a'tough wood to provide a certain degree of resiliency without breaking. Secured to one end of the mem'beri5 is -a chain 6 which isprovided with a snap 7 by means of which the member 5 may be secured in position. The

slidable member 5 is formed with an elongated, longitudinally extending groove 8, in the bottom wall of which is formed a plurali'ty of spaced recesses 9; I

Secured to the outer face of'the hollow member :1, by means ofa suitable'holdfast device 10, is an elongated, resilient element 11 having an inherent tendency to swing its free end away from the member 1. Depending from the lower face'of the element 1 1 is a lug 12 which normally extends slightly into an opening 13 formed in the member l, in spaced relation to the inner end thereof. Adjacent the opening. 13, a supportingelement in the form of a steeple 14 issecured to the member 1.

Pivotally mounted on the steeple 14: is a latch member 15, substantially in the form of a bell cranlgand comprising a long arm 16anda short arm 17. The arms 16 and 17. are disposed at an angle to each other of slightly more than 90- and with .the member 15 disposed in latching position, the free ends of the arms 16 and 17 bear against the upper face of the resilient element '11. In this position, the short arm 17 isslightly ofi center with respect to the vertical plane of the steeple 14 and the resilient-element 11 is forced downwardly with its inner face almost in contact with the member 1. Only suflicient play is left between the resilient element 11 and memberl to permit the short arm 17 to be swung pastcenter when the latch member 15 is swung to inoperative position as shown' in dotted lines in Figure 5. With the latch member 15 in inoperative position, the inherent resiliency of the member 11 forces the same upwardly intothe posit-ion illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5.

WVith the latch member 15 in inoperative position, the free end of the lug 12 is positioned within the groove 8 in spaced relation to-the bottom wall thereof. With the lug 12 so disposed, any relative rotary movement between themembers 1 and 5 is prevented. In this position a free longitudinal movement is permitted between the members 1 and '5 in order that the recesses 9 may selectively' be brought into registry with the opening 13 formed in the member 1. With the opening 13 in registry with one of the recesses 9, the latch member may be moved to operative position, which forces the lug 12 into such recess, by means of which the members 1 and 5 are locked against relative longitudinal movement.

Preferably the members land 5 are each of about five feet in'length and the recesses 9 are disposed about siX inches apart. Also the ends of the grooves 8 are disposed about six inches from the ends of -the member 5.:

With these proportions the members 1 and 5 may belocked in selective positions to vary the entire length of the device from approximately five and one-half feet to nine feet. -The snaps i and 7 are adapted for connection with the bridles of adjacent horses and the flexibility of the chains 3 and 6 provides for free movement of the horses headswithin the limits of the lengths of the chains.

It, is. to be noted that. relative rotary movement between the members 1 and 5 is prevented whether the latch member is in operative, or inoperative position due to the fact that the lug 12 projects into the groove Sat all times. Should the latch member 15 inadvertently be moved to inoperative position, the members 1 and 5 would be prevented from becoming separated by the engagement of the lug 12 withthe inner wall of the groove 8. v r

. It is thought that the many advantages of r a tie hitch in accordance with this invention will be readily apparent, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustratedand described, yet it is to be understood that various changes in the de tails ofconstruction may be made which fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. i

I What I claim is:

1,1.v A tie hitch comprising, an elongated hollow .member formed vwith an opening through its wall and having one end adapted for connection with abridle, an elongated slidable. member having one end inserted in the hollow member and having itsother end adapted for. connection with a bridle, said slidable-member being formed with a longitudinal groove, a resilient element secured to the hollow member and having a lug extending through said opening and into said groove whereby relative rotary movement a 'resilientelement" secured to the hollow member and having a lug extending through said opening and into said groove whereby relative rotary movement between said memhers is prevented, and means for depressing and latching said resilient element to force the lug into engagement withv the walls of one of said recesses to prevent relative longitudinal movement between said members.

3. A tie hitch comprising, an elongated hollow member having one end adapted for connection with a bridle, said member being formed with an opening through itswall, an elongated slidable member having one end inserted in the hollow member and having its other end adapted for. connection with a bridle, a resilient element secured to the hollow member and having a lug extending into said opening, means for depressing and latching said element to force the lug inwardly with respect to the hollow member, and spaced means provided on the slidable member for selective engagement with the lug when the latter is forced inwardly, to prevent relative movement between said members, said depressing and latching means including a supporting element carried by the hollow member, and a latch member pivotally mounted on said supporting element, said latch member having a pair. of angularl disposed arms for'seating on the outer ace of said resilient element.

51:. A tie hitch comprising, an elongated hollow member having one end adapted for connection with a bridle, an elongated slidi ablemember having one end inserted in the hollow' member and having its other end adapted for connectionwith a bridle, said slidable member being formed with a longitudinal groove, a resilient element secured to the hollow member and havinga lug nor mally extending into said groove, means for depressing and latching said resilient element to force the lug inwardly with respect to the hollow member, and spaced means provided on the slidable member for selective engagement with said lug when the latter is forcedinwardly for locking said members together. i

5. A tie hitch comprising, elongated hollow member formed with an opening through its wall, an elongated slidable memher having one end inserted in the hollow member and formed witha longitudinally extending groove, a resilient element secured to the hollow member and having a lug extendlng through said openlng and nto sa1d groove, means for depressing and latching bers, and flexible means on the outer ends said resilient element to force the lug inof said members for connection with a pair wardly with respect to the hollow member, of bridles. 10 spaced means provided on the slidable mem- In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature her for selective engagement with the lug hereto. 7

when the latter is forced inwardly, to pre- 7 a vent relative movement between said mem- SOLOMON G. SOHULZ. 

